Shillong, Aug 25: Meghalaya has demolished 72 illegal coke plants since 2023, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the Assembly on Tuesday.
The action was taken by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board in two phases – 44 plants in July 2023 and 28 in 2025.
Of the 44 demolished in 2023, 39 were in West Khasi Hills and five in East Khasi Hills. In 2025, 17 were in West Khasi Hills and 11 in East Jaintia Hills.
Sangma was responding to a short-duration discussion on Voice of the People Party’s 10-point charter moved by Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit.
He said no industry can operate without statutory clearances including consent to establish and operate, and units violating norms will face action.
The Chief Minister added that 711 cement plants in Jaintia Hills have been inspected and their pollution-control equipment linked to online monitoring systems.
On coal mining, Sangma said mining can only proceed under the framework laid down by the NGT’s 2014 ban on unregulated mining and the Supreme Court’s direction to comply with the MMDR Act, Mines Act and Environment Protection Act.
The state notified an SOP on March 5, 2021 for prospecting licences and mining leases. The Ministry of Coal has approved prospecting licences for 30 blocks and mining leases for 12 blocks, with mining started in 3 blocks.
He said the 100-hectare minimum lease area remains a hurdle for small miners. The issue was discussed by a joint committee of the Ministry of Coal, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, Directorate General of Mines Safety and state government on July 31.
The state has proposed reduction in minimum area, more delegation to the state and a project monitoring unit, besides exploring safer mining methods. The committee is likely to meet again in 20-30 days.
